Saatchi & Saatchi gives back: Our new outreach project

We often get so bogged down with everything going on in our own lives that we forget about those less fortunate than ourselves. So, inspired by the idea of Mandela Day, we decided to go on a little adventure. Before long, we found ourselves in Imizamo Yethu, the informal settlement known for being a highlight along many of Cape Town’s township tours. We were warmly welcomed on an icy cold day, and were immediately made to feel at home. Little did we know that this was to be the beginning of Saatchi & Saatchi’s new, ongoing outreach project.

Kenny, the jovial man who showed us around the township, took us to Siluncedo Daycare & Aftercare centre. Within the community, this centre is held in high regard due to the fact that it keeps school children off the streets and gives them a safe space in which to socialise after school (once they’ve finished their homework, of course). However, the building in which it is housed is not a welcoming one, and their lack of funding is keeping them from offering the children of Imizamo Yethu the kind of afterschool care and attention they deserve.

For starters, they have no furniture, stationery, food or toys to offer their students – and those are the smallest problems. The students at Siluncedo know better than anyone just how unforgiving a Cape Town winter can be. Their roof is in dire need of repairs, as are the windows (which for now, comprise of nothing but a window frame and plastic sheeting). It really is heart-breaking to imagine having to come into an environment such as this after a long day of learning.

So, instead of just giving them a once-off donation, we decided that helping Siluncedo would become more of a long-term, ongoing project for us. Because we believe in sustainable living, we want to do as much as possible to help create a warm, inviting aftercare space. With the resources that we have, we’re all putting our True Blue spirits to good use, and we’re embarking on helping the centre in any way we can so that the carers are able to focus on doing what they do best – fostering a healthy environment through daycare and aftercare programmes.

We returned a few weeks later with our first initiative for the centre: we presented them with a bevy of blankets, colour charts and snacks. The children were absolutely delighted and draped the blankets around themselves immediately – before busting out into some rad 90s pop band poses:

This definitely won’t be our last visit. Watch this space for updates on this project – we’ll be sure to let you know when we start painting, repairing and prettying up Siluncedo Daycare & Aftercare centre.